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Accident: 913384 - One Employee Dies, Five Injured When Overcome By Toxic Fumes

Accident: 913384 -- Report ID: 0552625 -- Event Date: 07/16/1992
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
11455401707/17/19923714Karmazin Products Corp.
EMPLOYEE #3 WAS ASKED TO ENTER A WATER COOLING TANK MEASURING 4 FEET WIDE BY 8 FEET LONG BY 65 FEET DEEP TO REMOVE WASTEWATER SLUDGE. HE WAS RELIEVED 15 MINUTES LATER BY EMPLOYEE #1. EMPLOYEE #3 COMPLAINED OF VISUAL DISTURBANCES AND DIZZINESS AFTER EXITING. EMPLOYEE #1 APPARENTLY BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AND TRIED TO CLIMB THE LADDER, BUT COLLAPSED AND FELL INTO THE SLUDGE. EMPLOYEE #2 ATTEMPTED TO RESCUE EMPLOYEE #1 THREE TIMES BEFORE HE COLLAPSED. EMPLOYEES #4 AND #6 ENTERED THE TANK WITH SCBA TO RESCUE EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2. THE RESCUE FAILED. EMPLOYEE #5 CALLED FOR OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE. EMPLOYEE #5 HAD BEEN PUMPING WASTEWATER FROM THE WATER COOLING TANK PRIOR TO THE ENTRY AND HAD REMARKED TO COWORKERS THAT THE FIRST FOUR BARRELS HAD SMELLED LIKE PURE TRICHLOROETHYLENE. EMPLOYEE #1 DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPOSURE.
Keywords: ventilation, confined space, ppe, work rules, scba, dizziness, toxic fumes, trichlorethylene, sludge, water tank
Employee # Inspection Age Sex Degree Nature Occupation
1 114554017 Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
2 114554017 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
3 114554017 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
4 114554017 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
5 114554017 Fatality Asphyxia Occupation not reported
6 114554017 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported

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